Ananova:

A parsnip resembling a creature from the abyss has come top in a contest to find the ugliest vegetable in England.

All entries to the National Trust competition had to be grown from seed this year, and they ranged from multi-layered tomatoes to twisted carrots.

Liz Woodward, food choices officer for the trust, said: "This competition was designed to show that we shouldn't judge a vegetable on its looks and we should challenge the image of the cosmetically perfect and well-formed vegetables found in many of our supermarkets.

"From the hundreds of entrants received there was a wealth of shapes and sizes and a real belief in the benefits of growing your own veg."

Hilary Nellist from Bedford, the grower of the winning parsnip, won an organic veg box for a year and advice from a National Trust gardener.